'We should have taken action against Syria in 2013' Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw says

Buses carrying families of Jaish al-Islam fighters, from the former rebel bastion's main town of Douma, arrive at the Abu al-Zindeen checkpoint controlled by Turkish-backed rebel fighters near the northern Syrian town of al-Bab, on April 5, 2018. (Image: NAZEER AL-KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images)

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A prominent Devon MP has called for military action to stop chemical weapons being used on civilians in Syria.

Ben Bradshaw, Labour MP for Exeter, described it as a tragedy that military action had not been taken five years ago. He said doing so would’ve saved thousands of lives.

The UK government is considering military action as evidence that Assad’s forces had use chemical weapons on civilians grows. The World Health Organisation said that during the shelling of Douma on Saturday, around 500 patients showed symptoms of exposure to toxic chemicals.

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British members of parliament are split on whether to take military action or not.

Ben Bradshaw, former Culture Secretary

Mr Bradshaw supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq and said that limited and cautious action would be appropriate in Syria.

“As someone who believes the international community should have acted in 2013, when Assad first used chemical weapons against his own people, I am inclined to support limited & targeted action against his chemical weapons facilities and delivery systems now,’ he said.

‘If the world does nothing when a rogue state like Assad’s uses banned weapons against civilians, this would set an extremely dangerous precedent. But the Government should follow the convention established by the last Labour Government & seek Commons’ approval for any action, not least so that British personnel involved know they have the backing of their Parliament.

Syrian Army soldiers advancing in an area on the eastern outskirts of Douma (Image: AFP PHOTO/STRINGER)

‘Mrs May must present the evidence she has of Syrian regime culpability for this and the other recent chemical weapons’ attacks & the objectives & limits of any action, as well as a clear and comprehensive strategy for ending the conflict in Syria.’

Mr Bradshaw, an outspoken critic of the Putin regime, said Russia had to take responsibility for some of the civilian casualties.

‘Assad and his Kremlin backers have caused what the United Nations has described as the worst humanitarian crisis since the Second World War, with hundreds of thousands killed or displaced. It is a tragedy that action wasn’t taken back in 2013, when it would have been much easier, Assad was on the brink of defeat & so many lives could have been saved,’ he said.

Johnny Mercer, Conservative MP for Plymouth Moor View told Sky News, should not have a binding say on whether UK military should take action in Syria. He said freedom of movement will be limited by having to go through parliament.

Speaking on Twitter Sarah Wollaston, Conservative MP for Totnes said although she did not previous support military action in the past, it is now time to stop the use of these horrific weapons.